[Pibe-division] Help with braille

Tue Nov 17 19:04:51 UTC 2015

no longer possible. Seedlings could do it at one time, but now they
focus on US residents only.

On 11/17/15, rjaquiss via PIBE-Division <pibe-division at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello:
>
>      There used to be places in the U.S. where gently used braille
> materials
> could be sent for distribution abroad. The last I knew, the sites had
> closed.
>
> Regards,
>
> Robert
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Smith, Pauline L via PIBE-Division
> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 10:32 AM
> To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
> Cc: Smith, Pauline L
> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>
> This is so true, the diminishing of hardcopy magazines and other materials.
> As I mentioned in an message submitted to a local agency, the majority of
> Braille users will not have access to refreshable Braille devices outside
> of
> schools and/or rehabilitation programs.  This is due to cost, particularly
> in developing parts of the world.  This is even the case in the inner
> cities
> and other lower-income populations in the U.S.  We still need to have ready
> access to hardcopy Braille materials.
>
> Pauline Smith, TVI
> Braille Instructor
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> adrijana prokopenko via PIBE-Division
> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 12:26 PM
> To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
> Cc: adrijana prokopenko
> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>
> Just too bad we get less and less braille magazines, especially us who live
> in other countries.
>
> On 11/17/15, Eric Guillory via PIBE-Division <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>> Excellent words of wisdom, Amanda! Braille Rocks!
>>
>>
>>
>> Eric Guillory, PIBE President
>> Director of Youth Services
>> Louisiana Center for the Blind
>> 101 South Trenton Street
>> Ruston, LA 71270
>> Voice: 800-234-4166
>> Fax: 318-251-0109
>> Twitter: ericguillory
>> Skype: brllovingdad
>> www.louisianacenter.org
>>
>> "Together, we are changing what it means to be blind."
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Amanda Gough via PIBE-Division
>> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 8:27 PM
>> To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
>> <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Amanda Gough <amanda.gough at xtra.co.nz>
>> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>>
>> Hi Pauline
>>
>> A couple of points you could try to push the validity and importance
>> of
>> braille:
>>
>> - They will never be able to read their child a bedtime story using a
>> speech synthesiser.
>> - Blind people who don't use braille are much more likely to end up
>> unemployed than braille users.
>> - It is a much faster, and less obtrusive way to identify items by
>> braille labelling them than by using something like KNFB reader (Not
>> knocking KNFB Reader, it has a place and it's brilliant).
>> - You'll never learn to spell well using a speech synthesiser.
>> - You can't add your own 'voices' to characters whose words are read
>> to you in synthesised speech.
>> - Braille and technology are not mutually exclusive... and you're
>> going to be far better off with BOTH.
>> - And most importantly, sighted people are still learning to read
>> print, and until the day that is no longer deemed necessary, braille
>> is also necessary.
>>
>> I would also seriously look at ensuring they received plenty of
>> mentoring and role modelling from proficient braille users who use
>> braille as part of their everyday lives - people who are also
>> technologically literate, and could/do use synthesised speech for
>> certain tasks, but opt for braille in other circumstances because it is
> the best tool for the job.
>>
>> There are plenty of stories on the NFB website and in other places
>> where blind people tell the readers why braille is so important to
>> them, and how it enhances their lives.  Perhaps you could get your
>> students to read these?
>>
>> I am also interested that you say a lot of your students have reduced
>> finger sensitivity and need jumbo braille.  I'm just wondering why
>> this is?  Do you have a lot of diabetic students? I have never taught
>> jumbo braille (except when teaching a symbol using the swing cell with
>> marbles or similar, then it's mega-jumbo!)
>>
>> Good luck
>>
>> Amanda
>> (in New Zealand)
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Smith, Pauline L via PIBE-Division
>> Sent: Tuesday, 17 November 2015 9:02 a.m.
>> To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
>> Cc: Smith, Pauline L
>> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>>
>> Good Afternoon,
>>
>> I face the same issues Adrijana raises here when working the
>> adults/young adults I teach.  It is very difficult to get most of them
>> to do practice/homework assignments.  Most of them don't take my class
> seriously.
>> Also, many don't see a reason to learn or use Braille since there are
>> talking devices that can accomplish tasks with less effort.  Also, not
>> much outside material is produced in jumbo Braille, which many of my
>> students require due to reduced sensitivity in hands and fingers.
>>
>> Any tips for motiviating and improving of my Braille instruction are
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Pauline Smith, TVI
>> Braille Instructor
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of adrijana prokopenko via PIBE-Division
>> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 2:34 PM
>> To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>> Cc: adrijana prokopenko
>> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>>
>> When you think about it, that is how we did it as children, just kept
>> reading, reading and reading, even though not much was available, I
>> remember our alphabet book was about 40 years old when we got it for
>> the first time and our teacher often gave us notebooks of former
>> students she had we could read stuff from. Nowadays students are never
>> going to take what we did, many talk back at their teachers or
>> protest, which makes things even more difficult and it is even harder
>> when they read articles of how braille is staying backwards and then
>> try to beat us up with those arguements, I really wish and hope that
>> when editors and others write such articles, they have in mind that
>> students are also reading them, so that they could get a more positive
>> point reach them.
>>
>> On 11/16/15, adrijana prokopenko <adrijana.prokopenko at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> That is what I think as well, but in my country of Macedonia you
>>> can't really find much braille to read in English and they can't even
>>> master grade 1, let alone grade 2.
>>>
>>> On 11/16/15, Marianne Denning via PIBE-Division
>>> <pibe-division at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Or just like reading print.  Read, read, read.  Braile must be under
>>>> the fingers regularly.
>>>>
>>>> On 11/16/15, rjaquiss via PIBE-Division <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> Hello Adrijana:
>>>>>
>>>>>      I am not a teacher, but it is my understanding that if you
>>>>> want to get good speed reading braille, you have to read braille. I
>>>>> use a braille display, but I often use embossed braille materials.
>>>>> Reading braille takes practice just like learning a musical
>>>>> instrument.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Robert
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf Of adrijana prokopenko via PIBE-Division
>>>>> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 10:28 AM
>>>>> To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>>>>> Cc: adrijana prokopenko
>>>>> Subject: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>>>>>
>>>>> It seems as reading braille is becoming more and more difficult and
>>>>> slower and slower for many of my students as years go by. I am sure
>>>>> there are more reasons than one that causes this, ranging from lack
>>>>> of braille materials, bad quality braille, students with multiple
>>>>> disabilities, the influence of computers and other technology and
>>>>> so much more. I was just wondering how other teachers come to terms
>>>>> with this problem and what it is that they use to help themselves
>>>>> in the process. Besides my experience, I have tried using different
>>>>> games, aproaches and ways to improve their speed and make them love
>>>>> braille more, but it doesn't give me good results most of the time.
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> PIBE-Division mailing list
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>>>>> PIBE-Division:
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>>>>> %
>>>>> 40earthl
>>>>> ink.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> 40denningweb.com
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>>> (513) 607-6053
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> p
>>>> rokopenko%40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>
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